Method and apparatus for exercising abdominal muscles

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for exercising the abdominal muscles of the human body is disclosed. The abdominal exercising apparatus comprises a long hollow metallic square tubing having three spaced stabilizing bars extending perpendicular from top to bottom to hold and stabilize the leg near the knee portion keeping the ankle and feet portion flat on the ground. The abdominal exercising apparatus at its bottom additionally comprises another tubing perpendicular to the main square tubing to hold standard size weights to be carried using the leg portion. In use, the abdominal exercise apparatus is held by the user&#39;s legs and attached securely to the bottom half of the user&#39;s legs to add weight to perform a routine leg assisted abs workout. The exercising apparatus builds stronger better looking abs without straining the user&#39;s back and neck and facilitates the performance of sit-up exercises for strengthening and toning abdominal muscles.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to methods and apparatus forexercising the abdominal muscles. Specifically, this invention relatesto an exercising apparatus provided with weights to perform theabdominal workout.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

In the past there have been quite a variety of exercise apparatusavailable for exercising the abdominal muscles. One such apparatusincludes an adjustable slant board with a pad for holding a user's feetin place while sit-ups and crunches are performed. Another abdominalexercise apparatus supports the upper half of a user's body while in areclined position on the floor. This apparatus also has arm, head andneck pads for supporting a user's arms, head and neck respectively. Thisapparatus has curved rocker components in contact with the floor. Toexercise the abdominal muscles, the user does regular abdominal crunchesaided by the fact that the apparatus rocks back and forth. Alsoavailable are machines in which a user sits. Many of these apparatushave upper torso supporting means that include pads posterior the uppertorso. Others have resistance pads anterior and adjacent the user'schest. The exerciser presses his chest forward and downward to move thepad and activate the resistance mechanism.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,991,591 discloses an abdominal exerciser including a legrest assembly optionally pivotally connected to a weighted main frame.The leg rest assembly may include a first member and second and thirdmembers extending transversely from the first member. One or more padsmay be affixed about the first member. The second and third members mayterminate in a hinge member such as a female coupler. The main frame mayinclude a plurality of curved members connected at an apex at a firstend thereof. U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,873 provides an “Abdominal exerciseapparatus and method”. An abdominal exercise apparatus includes a firstcross bar positioned behind the user's ankles, a second cross barpositioned above and over the user's knees and a third cross barpositioned below the user's hips and behind the user's thighs. A rigidframe connects the centers of the three cross bars and maintains thecross bars in parallel. The first cross bar can be adapted to supportweights. With the user on the user's back, the apparatus is held withthe user's legs. The user raises and lowers the user's legs with theapparatus to exercise abdominal muscles.

All of the abdominal exercise apparatus mentioned here, and many, manynot mentioned have one very important fault in common. The abdominalexercise movement rotates about an axis generally along a line passingthrough the user's body below and adjacent the sternum. The adjustableslant board has an axis adjacent the sternum plane. The conventionalrocking apparatus has an axis adjacent the sternum plane. The seatedapparatus with posterior torso support has an axis adjacent the sternumplane. One such apparatus, U.S. Pat. No. 4,387,893 states in its claimsthat it has an object to accomplish exercising movement about an axisalong a line passing through the user's body below and adjacent thesternum plane and other seated apparatus with resistance pads anteriorand adjacent the exerciser's chest have the same general location ofaxis.

Simply stated, because the pivotable axis is near the sternum plane andthe abdominal muscles near the sternum are the upper one-third of theabdominal wall. These upper abdominal muscles get the majority of thebenefit because they do the majority of the work. The lower portions ofthe abdominal wall do not lengthen and shorten during abdominal exerciseusing prior art apparatus. This faulty axis can create anunder-developed middle and lower abdominal wall regardless of how manydedicated hours the exerciser works. A further and very importantnegative result of the faulty axis of the prior art is its negativeeffect on the exerciser's posture. In other words, standing and liftingwith middle back bent forward at the sternum plane. This describedposition is the very same position millions of people in our society getinto. For millions of people the result is serious and permanent injuryto their back by herniating discs. Lifting something heavy doesn't causethis kind of injury as long as healthful spine alignment is maintainedduring the lift. The injury results when the posture assumed during thelifting is bent forward at the middle back with shortened upperabdominals. Prior art apparatuses promote such posture.

In summary, the above mentioned apparatus of the prior art are far lessthan ideal because they fail to provide optimal development for middleabdominal muscles. Also, prior art apparatuses are less than idealbecause the postural performance habit they promote in the exerciser'smiddle spine is the same one usually present wherein so many peopleinjure their backs.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An apparatus for exercising the abdominal muscles of the human body isdisclosed. The abdominal exercising apparatus comprises a long hollowmetallic square tubing having three spaced stabilizing bars extendingperpendicular from top to bottom to hold and stabilize the leg near theknee portion keeping the ankle and feet portion flat on the ground. Theabdominal exercising apparatus at its bottom additionally comprisesanother tubing perpendicular to the main square tubing to hold standardsize weights to be carried using the leg portion. In use, the abdominalexercise apparatus is held by the user's legs and attached securely tothe bottom half of the user's legs to add weight to perform a routineleg assisted abs workout. The exercising apparatus builds strongerbetter looking abs without straining the user's back and neck andfacilitates the performance of sit-up exercises for strengthening andtoning abdominal muscles. Additionally, the weights used with theabdominal exercising apparatus may be added or removed depending uponthe user's requirement; and thus eliminates the need of picking updumbbells and exercising balls.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To further clarify various aspects of some example embodiments of thepresent invention, a more particular description of the invention willbe rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which areillustrated in the appended drawing. It is appreciated that the drawingdepicts only illustrated embodiments of the invention and are thereforenot to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will bedescribed and explained with additional specificity and detail throughthe use of the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus for exercising theabdominal muscles in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a transparent cut away perspective view of the bottom of theapparatus shown in FIG. 1 for exercising the abdominal muscles; and

FIG. 3 is a cut away side view of the apparatus for exercising theabdominal muscles.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 3, there is shown and illustrated anapparatus for exercising the abdominal muscles 10 in accordance with thepresent invention. The apparatus for exercising the abdominal muscles 10comprises a 2″×2″ hollow square curved tubing 16 which in a preferredembodiment is a 36″ long hollow metallic tube having three spacedstabilizing bars 20, 22, 24, respectively, extending from top to bottom,wherein the bar 20 is utilized to hold and stabilize the leg near theknee portion (not shown); and the bars 22 and 24 stabilize the ankle andfeet portions (not shown) flat on the ground. Each stabilizing bar 20,22, 24, respectively, are ⅜″ thick and 15 inches long, made of metalhaving a soft and comfortable grip 12 at each end of bars 20, 22 and 24.The exercising apparatus 10 further includes a 2″ metal tubing 18 at thebottom to hold standard size weights 19. The abdominal exercisingapparatus at its bottom additionally comprises another tubing 18perpendicular to the main square tubing 16 to hold by a clamp 32standard size weights 30 to be carried using the leg portion of theperson exercising (not shown).

In use, the user will place the exercising apparatus 10 over their legextending from knee to the feet and adjust and tighten it into placeusing the stabilizing and adjustment bars (20, 22 and 24). Next, theuser begins by lying on their back, knees bent and together with feetflat on the floor. In this position the user now rotates their lowerbody in a back and forth movement as far as possible by performing areverse abs crunch, bringing the users legs to their upper body. Theuser may use the exercising apparatus 10 with front leg raise whether itis hanging, bench, captain's chair, or lying on the floor methods as isknown in the exercise arts. Accordingly, the user could use theexercising apparatus for: a) sitting down for leg extensions; b) turnedaround lying down for hamstring curls and/or c) adding weight to thepull-ups.

It should be understood that only a small area is needed to do theexercises wherein the apparatus requires a small storage area. Acomparable workout with other equipment generally, requires the expenseof more than one exercise machine and a large workout area. The user ofthis present invention does not have to be an athlete in order to toneand strengthen their body. The major exercises used with this exercisingapparatus target the hard to reach areas of the user's body like theabdomen, waist line, inner and outer thighs and middle back. In anotherpreferred embodiment, the added weight at the leg near the foot portionwill help to stabilize the legs and keep the feet securely on the floor,while performing sit ups. This gives the user a more controlled workout.When properly used, the exercising apparatus of the present inventionstrengthens the abdomen, back and legs. Consequently, a user's postureand leg strength will improve. Although not specifically intended toreduce waist size, such a reduction often results with proper use. Thepresent invention is used primarily to strengthen specific areas of thebody for increased body “torque.”

In summary, an apparatus for exercising the abdominal muscles of thehuman body is disclosed. The abdominal exercising apparatus comprises along hollow metallic square tubing having three spaced stabilizing barsextending perpendicular from top to bottom to hold and stabilize the legnear the knee portion keeping the ankle and feet portion flat on theground. The abdominal exercising apparatus at its bottom additionallycomprises another tubing perpendicular to the main square tubing to holdstandard size weights to be carried using the leg portion. In use, theabdominal exercise apparatus is held by the user's legs and attachedsecurely to the bottom half of the user's legs to add weight to performa routine leg assisted abs workout. The exercising apparatus buildsstronger better looking abs without straining the user's back and neckand facilitates the performance of sit-up exercises for strengtheningand toning abdominal muscles.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, toinclude variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and mannerof operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obviousto one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to thoseillustrated in the drawings and described in the specification areintended to be encompassed by the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for exercising the abdominal musclesusing a user's leg, knee, ankle and feet, comprising: a first longhollow metallic square tubing having three spaced stabilizing barsextending from top to bottom, wherein said first bar is utilized to holdand stabilize the leg near the knee portion and the said second andthird bars stabilize the ankle and feet portion flat on the groundwherein said first metallic square tubing has at its bottom a secondtubing perpendicular to said first square tubing to hold standard sizeweights.
 2. The apparatus for exercising the abdominal muscles asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said first tube is a 2″×2″ hollow squaretubing that is 36″ long.
 3. The apparatus for exercising the abdominalmuscles as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said stabilizing bar is ⅜″thick and 15 inches long.
 4. The apparatus for exercising the abdominalmuscles as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said stabilizing bar is madeof metal having a soft and comfortable grip.
 5. The apparatus forexercising the abdominal muscles as claimed in claim 1, wherein theexercising apparatus is held by the user's legs and attached securely tothe bottom half of the user's legs to add weight to routine leg assistedabs workouts.
 6. The apparatus for exercising the abdominal muscles asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the exercising apparatus is utilized byadding and/or removing preferred weights depending upon user'srequirement thereby eliminating the user's need of picking dumbbells andexercising balls.
 7. A method for performing a user to perform abdominalexercises, comprising the following steps: placing by the user anexercising apparatus over their leg extending from knee to their feet;adjusting and tightening it into place using stabilizing and adjustmentbars; lying on their back, knees bent and together with feet flat on thefloor; and rotating their lower body in back and forth movement as faras possible by performing reverse abs crunch bringing their legs to theupper body.
 8. A method for performing abdominal exercises as claimed inclaim 7, wherein said method facilitates the performance of sit-upexercises for strengthening and toning abdominal muscles and results inbuilding the stronger better looking abs without straining the user'sback and neck.
 9. A method for performing abdominal exercises as claimedin claim 7, wherein said method uses said exercising apparatus for: a)sitting down for leg extensions; b) turned around lying down forhamstring curls; c) adding weight to the pull-ups.